AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 



Philohela minor.— Graj. Blind Snipe. Bog Sucker. Wood Snipe. 

 Timber Doodle. 



MIGRATORY, eastern portions of North America. Colors 

 curiously varied ; above, black, brown, grey and russet pre- 

 dominate, below warm brown and reddish, differs from the English 

 bird in being lighter in weight, the latter weighing from nine to 

 twelve ounces, the American but from five to eight. 



The Woodcock begins its yearly migration, from its southern 

 winter quarters to its more northern breeding grounds, early in the 

 spring, and makes its appearance with us about the latter part of 

 February or the first week in March, when the winter has been 

 open and mild, but in seasons that have been blustery and cold, 

 their travellings are delayed as late as the first of April. They ap- 

 pear to choose the progress of a southeasterly storm on which to 

 make their journeys, and frequently after such rains, are found in 

 great numbers scattered throughout the country. 



Very soon after their arrival they begin laying, and hatch their 

 young in about the same time as the quail — three weeks being the 

 period of incubation of the latter bird— and sometimes when sec- 

 tions of the country in which they breed are visited in early spring 

 by severe freshets, thousands of the young are destroyed. 



As a rule the Woodcock are in the midst of their family cares 

 about the first of May, and are thus the first of our migratory birds 

 to commence nesting. They waste no time after their arrival, and 

 by the first of April on any clear moonlight night, at all hours, the 

 male may be heard from every quarter, chanting his weird and un- 

 musical song to the object of his affection. This note so closely 

 resembles that of the night hawk as to be easily mistaken for it. 

 If one is ever so fortunate as to approach close to a pair of cock 

 unobserved during the mating season, he will witness the most re- 



